Toy weapon



Aug. 3, 1937. A. N. sMlTH TOY WEAPON Filed Nov. 23, 1935 92 42 g V o /4190 78 v 5e 54 5o 52 4&5

INVENTO K; i ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 3, 1937 UNITED rSTATES PATENT OFFICE TOY WEAPON poration of New York Application November 23, 1935, Serial No. 51,259

20 Claims.

This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to a toy weapon simulating a gun.

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improve toy weapons. More particular objects are to produce both a percussive sound and ejection of sparks to simulate the firing of a gun in a realistic manner while using harmless mechanism incapable of injuring children playing with the same.

Another object centers about the noise-making mechanism, and is to produce a sound as loud and realistic as the better grades of pop guns, while using a simple inexpensive mechanical movement devoid of pneumatic means such as are required in pop guns. Other objects concern the sparking mechanism and are to eject a copious shower of sparks at the muzzle of the gun at the instant of simulated explosion; to simplify the mechanical means for producing the sparks and for supporting and replacing the flint; and to press the sparking elements tightly together solely at the moment of spark production.

In accordance with still further objects of the invention, I provide a single actuating mecha- 2 3 nism of improved type suitable for either the noise-making or sparking mechanism, and preferably for simultaneously actuating both. A feature and object of the operating mechanism resides in the provision of a single main spring 30 which functions to normally hold the trigger in forward position, to store up energy during preliminary movement of the trigger, to abruptly actuate the noise-making and sparking mechanisms at the end of the trigger movement, and. 3.; to restore all parts of the mechanism to initial condition after the gun has been fired. Included in the operating mechanism is a novel twopart trigger one part of which is pivoted on the gun, and the other part of which'is disposed 4.o adjacent and preferably concealed within the rst part yet is movable relative to the rst part -to accommodate trigger movement and storage of energy in the spring before the noise-making and sparking mechanisms are actuated.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and other objects which will hereinafter appear, the invention vconsists in the toy weapon elements and their relation one to another, as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specica- 50 tion and sought'l to be deiined in the claims. The

specification is accompanied by a drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a toy pistol embodying features of the invention, with the front 55 half of the casing removed;

Fig. 2 is similar but shows the relation of the parts at the end of the trigger movement;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken in elevation in the plane of the line 4 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an inverted section taken in the kplane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and shows the noisemaking mechanism;

Fig. 6 is similar but shows the relation of the parts when the gun is iired; and

Fig. 7 illustrates a detail for increasing the sound produced.

Referring to the drawing, the gun comprises noise-making mechanism N, best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, sparking mechanism S, and suitable operating mechanism for actuating both the noise-making and sparking mechanisms by means of a single pull on the trigger.

Considering the arrangement in greater detail, the noise-making mechanism N comprises a relatively large diaphragm I2 which is preferably made of fibre board, thin sheet bakelite, or the like. This diaphragm ismounted against the side I4 of the weapon which, in the present case, simulates a revolver and is made up of two main pieces of sheet metal I6 and I8 which are l oppositely conveXed and secured together in edge to edge relation by suitable bent tongue connections indicated at 20. The outwardly convexed parts 22 of the pistol body, which simulate the cylinder of a revolver, are preferably left open at the forward end 24, thus forming ample passage for free sound egress. The sound producing diaphragm I2 is secured in place by disposing the same between kthe frame 26 of the motor or operating mechanism and the side wall I4 of the pistol body. If desired, this side wall I4 may be slit, as indicated by the semicircular slit |60, best shown in Fig. '7, in order to amplify the sound produced when Hthe diaphragm is struck. The frame 26 is itself secured to the pistol body by appropriate tongue and slot connections 23 the tongues of which pass through diaphragm I2. It will be understood that the wall 29 of the frame 26 lying against diaphragm I2 is largely cut away, as is indicated by the window 30 in Fig. 2, thusexposing the diaphragm The desired sound is produced by striking diaphragm I2 with a suitable hammer which, in the present case, is made up of a piece of leaf spring 32. mer 32 is bent to form a short transverse arm 34, the hammer being oscillatably supported by As is best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the hama strap 36 pressed inwardly from the wall 29 of the motor frame. The hammer may be so shaped and supported as to normally stay away from diaphragm I2, or, if desired, this result may be 5 insured by the provision of a special light spring 38 one end of which is secured to wall 29 by a strap 40, and the other end of which normally urges hammer 32 away from diaphragm I2 to the position shown in Fig. 5. The hammer is actuated by means of a longitudinally reciprocable actuator 42 having a part 44 which strikes the transverse arm 34, as shown by the change from Fig. 5 to Fig. 6.

The sparking mechanism S comprises a suitable pyrophoric element 46 which, for convenience, will be referred to as a int, and a friction or abrasive element 48movable relative to one another. In the present case, I flnd it convenient to secure the iiint 46 xedly in place, and to move the abrasive element 48. Flint 46 is permanently secured in a small eyelet-like holder including a cylindrical body 50 and a flange 52. This assembly is inserted upwardly through a mating hole in the bottom of the muzzle portion of the gun barrel, and is held in place by a strap 54 the rear end 56 of which is displaced upwardly and inserted through a mating slot at the bottom of the gun barrel, while the forward end 58 is reversely bent and slid over the edge of the muzzle as the strap 54 is put in place.

The abrasive element 48 may be secured to, or, as here illustrated, may be formed directly on a forward extension 58 of the actuator bar 42 previously referred to. k It will thus be evident that when the actuator bar is moved forwardly, it operates both the noise-making and sparking mechanisms.

To propel the actuator abruptly forward at the end of the trigger stroke, I provide the fol- 4o lowing mechanism. Trigger 60 is pivoted on the motor frame at 62. It has associated with it `a member 64. In a sense, the structure may be thought of as a two-part trigger, one part 60 being preferably made of sheet metal, and the other part 64 being made of a rod of stiff round wire. The lower or finger-engaging part 66 of the trigger is reversely bent to channel or U shape, and the lower end of member 64 is received and housed therein, as will be evident from inspection of Figs. 1 and 4. A single relatively powerful pull spring 68 is connected at one end to an anchoring lug 10 formed on the motor frame, and at the other end to a bend 12 (Fig. 1) on member 64. The upper end 14 of member 64 passes through a mating opening 16 (Fig. 3) in actuator 42 and is thereby anchored to the actuator. Spring 68 normally pulls member 164 forwardly into close engagement with the trigger and thereby pulls the trigger also to forward position. f

The actuator is restrained against forward vmovement during preliminary movement of the trigger, by suitable detent mechanism, here exemplied by a pawl or hook 18 pivoted on the motor frame at 80, and a lug 82 projecting sidewardly from actuator 42. 'Ihe pawl 14 falls by gravity to its lowermost position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and, if desired, may be additionally held in desired position by a light spring wire 84 (Fig. 1), the rear end of which is anchored in straps 86 formed on the wall of the frame 26, and the forward end of which bears downwardly against a lug 88 bent outwardly from pawl 18 and passing through a slot 90 in the motor frame. `The actuator is released for forward movement by means of a depressor 92 formed at the top of trigger 60, this depressor bearing against and depressing the actuator from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, at which time lug 82 is moved beneath hook 18, thus releasing the actuator for forward movement. An important advantage of this mode of releasing the detent is that the` friction element 48 is pressed down against flint y46 during the firing stroke of the actuator. This pressure is released during restoring movement, thus minimizing Wear of the flint.

In operation, it will be understood that as the trigger 60 is drawn rearwardly, the lower end of member 64 is drawn rearwardly, but the upper end 'I4 is locked in position because the actuator is held against movement by the detent. As the lower end of member 64 is drawn rearwardly, the bend 12 is similarly drawn rearwardly, thus tensioning the relatively powerful pull spring 68. The preliminary movement of the trigger is vaccommodatedr despite the fixation of the actuator, by separation of the two parts of `the trigger, that is, by separation of member 64 relative to trigger 60. This is clearly indicated by the broken line position 64' of the member, shown inI Fig. 2, near but not quite at the end of the trigger stroke. It will be understood that at this time the spring 68 is very forcibly tensioned, and that the upper end of member 64 seeks vto propel lthe actuator forwardly. During the movement of trigger 60, the depressor 92 approaches actuator 42, and at the very end of the trigger movement the depressor bears against andmoves the actuator downwardly free of the detent, at which time spring 68 pulls member 64 and actuator 42 forwardly with an exceedingly` sharp sudden movement. The resulting movement of the actuator causes hammer 32 to strike diaphragmr I2 a sharp blow, and at the same time causes the sparking mechanism to eject a shower of sparks from themuzzle of the gun.

Meanwhile bar 64 and trigger 6|) are brought together again, as is indicated by the solid line showing in Fig. 2. Spring 68 is still partially tensioned, however, and tendsv to draw the trigger assembly forwardly to the initial or normal position shown in Fig. l. As the trigger isreleased, the parts move forwardly to initial position, and at the same time the upper end 14 of member 64I draws the actuator 42 back to initial position. During this retraction of the actuator, there is little or no pressure on the sparking elements because the depressor 92 is elevated from the actuator. When detent lug 82 reaches pawl 18, the pawl is cammed upwardly the necessary amount to pass over the lug 82, and to this end the lug may, if desired, be biased as shown in the drawing. 'I'he hammer is also restored to initial position as the hammer-engaging part 44 of the actuator leaves the transverse arm of the hammer. The parts are then ready for another ring of the gun, and the trigger may be repeatedly pulled and the gun repeatedly fired as often as desired.

It is believed that the mode of constructing and using the improved toy weapon as well as the many advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing description. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described the weapon in a preferred form, many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A toy weapon comprising a noise-making Y.

mechanism, sparking mechanism,v a trigger, --a single spring for normally holding the trigger in forward position land for actuating the noisemaking and sparking mechanisms,and means so arranged as to restrain said mechanisms against operation during preliminary movement of the trigger but to release the same for operation under the influence of the aforesaid spring near completion of the trigger movement.

2. A toy weapon comprising a noise-making mechanism including a diaphragm and a hammer movable thereagainst, sparking mechanism including a relatively movable flint and friction element, a trigger, a single spring for normally holding the trigger in forward position and for actuating the noise-making and sparking mechanisms, and means so arranged as to vrestrain said mechanisms against operation during preliminary movement of the trigger but to release the same for a single sudden operation under the influence of the aforesaid spring near completion of the trigger movement.

3. A toy weaponl comprising a device requiring abrupt movement, a two-part trigger, the Vfirst of said parts being pivoted on the Weapon, and the second of said.- parts being disposed adjacent the trigger and normally moved forwardly with the trigger by resilient means, said second trigger part cooperating with said devicefto actuate the same, detent means for preventing operation of the device during preliminary movement of the trigger, the movement of the rst triggerpart being accommodated by relative movement of the first and second trigger parts, and means to release said detent near the end of the trigger stroke, whereby .the aforesaid resilient means `abruptly actuates said device and brings the two trigger parts together again.

4. A toy weapon comprising a noise-making device including a relatively large libre diaphragm and a hammer movable into engagement with said diaphragm, a trigger pivoted on the weapon,

.a member normally moved in one direction by a main spring, said member cooperating with Vsaid. hammer and trigger and normally moving said trigger forwardly, detent means for preventing operation of the hammer during preliminary movement of the trigger, the movement` of the trigger causing relative movement of the member and tensioning of the spring, and additional means to release said detent near the end of the trigger stroke, whereby the aforesaid spring abruptly actuates said hammer.

5. A toy weapon comprising a noise-making device, a two-part trigger, the first of said parts being pivoted on the weapon, and the second of said parts being disposed adjacent the trigger and normally moved forwardly with the trigger by a single main spring, said second trigger part cooperating with said hammer tol actuate the same, detent means for preventing operation of the noise-making device during preliminary movement of the trigger, the movement of. the rst trigger part being accommodated by separation between the first and second trigger parts, and means to release said detent near ythe end of the trigger stroke, whereby the aforesaid spring abruptly actuates said noise-making device and brings the twol trigger parts together again. f

6. A toy weapon comprising a noise-making device including a relatively large fibre diaphragm and a hammer movable into engagement with said diaphragm, a two-part trigger, the first of said partsbeing pivoted on the weapon, and

the second of said parts being disposed behind the trigger and normally pulled forwardly against and with the trigger by a single main tension spring, said second part cooperating with; said hammer to actuate the same, detent means for preventing operation of the noise-making device during preliminary movement of the trigger, the movement of the first trigger part being accommodated by separation between the first and second trigger parts, and means to release said detent near the end of the trigger stroke, whereby the aforesaid spring abruptly actuates said harnmer and brings the two trigger parts together again.

7. A toy weapon comprising sparking mechanism, an actuator for the same, a trigger, a member normally pulled in one direction by a relatively powerful spring, means connecting the member and the actuator, a detent for restraining the actuator against movement during preliminary movement of Ythe trigger, said preliminary movement being accommodated by relative movement of the member and trigger, and means for releasing the detent near the end of the trigger stroke, whereby said spring abruptly moves the actuator.

8.' A toy weapon comprising sparking mechanism, an actuator for the same, a two-part trigger, one of said parts` being movably mounted on the weaponfand the other of said parts being disposed adjacent the first part and normally drawn forward by a relatively powerful tension spring, means connecting the second trigger part and the actuator, a detent for restraining the actuator against movement during Ypreliminary movement of the trigger, said preliminary movement being accommodated by separation of the first and second trigger parts, and means` for releasing the detent near the endof the trigger stroke, whereby said spring abruptly moves the actuator and brings the trigger parts together.

9. A to-y weapon comprising sparking mechanism including a relatively movable flint and abrasive element, an actuator for relatively moving the same, a two-part trigger, one of said parts being movably mounted onvthe weapon, and the other of said parts being disposed behind the first part and normally drawn forward by a relatively powerful spring, means connecting the second trigger part and the actuator, a detent for restraining the `actuator against movement during preliminary movement of the trigger, said preliminary movement being accommodated by separation of the first and second trigger parts, and means on said first trigger part for releasing the detent near the end of the trigger stroke, whereby Said spring abruptly moves the actuator and brings the trigger parts together.

10. A toy weapon comprising sparking mechanism including a relatively movable flint and abrasive element, an actuator for relatively moving the same, a two-part trigger, one of said parts being pivotally mounted on the weapon, and thel other of said parts being disposed behind the rst part and normally drawn forward by a relatively powerful tension spring, means connecting the second trigger part and the actuator, a detent for restraining the actuator against movement during preliminary movement of the trigger, said preliminary movement being accommodated by separation of the first and second trigger parts, and means for forcing the flint and abrasive ele,- ment toward one another duringrelease of the actuator, and for releasing the detent near the end of the trigger stroke, whereby said spring labruptly moves the actuator and brings the trigger parts together.

11. A toy Weapon comprising a flint stationarily mounted near the muzzle of the weapon at the bottom thereof, an abrasive element reciprocable longitudinally of the barrel relative to said flint, appropriate spring and trigger mechanism for first storing energy in said spring and then abruptly applying the same for movement of the abrasive element near the end of the trigger stroke, and additional means for depressing said abrasive element into engagement with the flint solely during the forward or sparking movement of the abrasive element.

12. A toy weapon comprising a flint statonarily mounted near the muzzle of the weapon at the bottom thereof, an abrasive element reciprocable longitudinally of the barrel relative to Said iiint, appropriate spring and trigger mechanism for rst storing energy in said spring and then abruptly applying the same for movement of the abrasive element near the end of the trigger stroke, a detent for restraining the element against forward movement, and additional means for depressing said element free of the detent and into engagement with the flint during the resulting forward or sparking movement of the abrasive element.

13.A toy Weapon comprising a noise-making mechanism including a relatively large diaphragm and a hammer movable into engagement with said diaphragm, a sparking mechanism including a relatively movable flint and abrasive element, a single longitudinally reciprocable actuator for actuating both the noise-making and sparking mechanisms, a trigger, a member connected to said trigger and normally drawn in one direction by a relatively powerful spring, means connecting the member and the actuator,

.40 a detent for restraining the actuator against movement during preliminary movement of the trigger, said preliminary movement being accommodated by relative movement of the member and trigger, and means to release the actuator 45 from the detent near the end of the trigger stroke, thereby abruptly releasing the actuator, said actuator being restored to initial detained position by the restoring movement of the trigger and member under the influence of the afore- 50 said spring.

14. A toy weapon comprising a. noise-making mechanism including a relatively large diaphragm and a hammer movable into engagement with said diaphragm, a sparking mechanism in- 55 cluding a relatively movable flint and abrasive element, a single longitudinally reciprocable actuator for actuating both the noise-making and sparking mechanisms, a two-part trigger, one of said parts being movably mounted on the weapon,

0 and the other of said parts being disposed adjacent the first part and normally .drawn for- Ward by a relatively powerful spring, means connecting the second trigger part and the actuator, a detent for restraining the actuator against 65 movement during preliminary movement of the trigger, said preliminary movement being accommodated by separation of the first and second trigger parts, and means to release the actuator near the end of the trigger stroke, thereby 70 abruptly releasing the actuator, said actuator be- :175' mechanism, a sparking mechanism, a single longitudinallyj reciprocable actuator for actuating *both the noise-making and sparking mechanisms,

a two-part trigger, one of said parts being pivotallyy mounted on the weapon, and the other of said parts being disposed behind the first part and normally drawn forward by a relatively powerful tension spring, means connecting the second trigger part and the actuator, a detent for restraining the actuator against movement durn ing preliminary movement ofthe trigger, said preliminary movement being accommodated by separation of the first and second'trigger parts, and means to release the actuator from the detent near the end of the trigger stroke, thereby abruptly releasing the actuator.

' 16. A toy weaponl comprising a noise-making mechanism, a sparking mechanism, a single longitudinally reciprocable actuator for actuating both the noise-making and sparking mechanisms, a two-part trigger, one of said parts being movably mounted on the weapon, and the other of said parts being disposed behind the first part and normally drawn forward by a relatively powerful spring, means connecting the second trigger part andthe actuator, a detent for restraining the actuator against movement during preliminary movement of the trigger, said preliminary movement being accommodated by separation of the first and second trigger parts, and means on ,said rst trigger part to release the actuator from the detent, thereby abruptly releasing the actuator, said actuator being restored to initial element, a single longitudinally reciprocable actuator for actuating both the noise-making and sparking mechanisms, a two-part trigger, one of said parts being pivot'ally mounted on the weapon, and the other of said parts being disposed behind the first part and normally drawn forward by a relatively powerful tension spring, means connectingvthe second trigger part and the actuator,` a detent for `restraining the actuator against movement during preliminary movement of the trigger, said preliminary movement being accommodatedby separation of the first and second trigger parts, and means on said rst trigger part to release the actuator from the detent by depressing the actuator near the end of the trigger stroke, thereby abruptly releasing the actuator and at the same time pressing the abrasive element andint together, said actuator being restored to initial detained position by the restoring movement of the trigger parts under the 1nfluence of the aforesaid spring.

18. In a toy weapon, a two-part trigger, one of said parts being pivoted on the weapon, and the other of said parts being disposed behind the trigger and normally pulled forwardly with the trigger by a single main tension spring, and operating mechanism connected to said second part.

19. In a toy weapon, a gun body having a wall with a convex portion, a noise-making diaphragm mounted against said wall around the convex portion, a hammer to strike the diaphragm, mechanism to actuate the hammer, and a slit through the aforesaid wall of the gun body near the diaphragm,'said slit Vextending in at least two directions and forming no physical opening for sound discharge, but serving to free a part of the side Wall at the diaphragm for increased vibration.

20. A toy Weapon comprising a gun body, a diaphragm mounted against a Wall thereof, a hammer to strike the diaphragm, trigger control mechanism to actuate the hammer, a sound egress opening on the aforesaid wall at the diaphragm, and an additional slit through said wall near said diaphragm, said slit extending in at least two directions and forming no physical opening for sound discharge but serving toincrease the sound-making eect of the toy.

ANTHONY N. SMITH. 

